HomeMy WebLinkAboutHSAC Forum Report 1997"So You Think
You're Immune from
Welfare Reform:
The Impact on
Orange County"
Prepared by
Human Services Advisory Commission
Prepared for
Orange County Board of Commissioners,
Orange County Welfare Reform Planning
Committee, and Forum Participants.
BACKGROUND
"So You Think You're Immune from Welfare Reform: The
Impact on Orange County," was the topic of the 1997 Human
Services Advisory Commission (HSAC) forum. The goal of the
forum was to give community agencies an opportunity to provide
feedback that will be incorporated into Orange County's Plan for
Welfare Reform. The plan will be submitted to the State this
fiscal year for funding. The forum participants discussed
possible ways human services agencies and the community can
support families affected by Welfare Reform.
OVERVIEW
North Carolina State Senator Howard Lee elaborated on the "hot
off the press" welfare legislation. He said that Work First, which
is showing clear signs of success, was not scrapped in favor of
some completely new program with new goals. He spoke
strongly in favor of increasing training opportunities within
Orange County. He mentioned that the reform will undoubtedly
increase state and county bureaucracy and that he recommended
that Orange County not become a pilot county.
0
North Carolina State Representative Verla Insko opened the
"By the year 2000,
forum with a description of the welfare reform compromise
every able- bodied
between the State Senate and House. The compromise allowed
counties to either continue Work First with new flexibility, or
welfare recipient in
pilot the House plan with restrictions that assure accountability.
North Carolina
The new legislation laid out the structure of the pilot programs,
should be working or
the duties of all counties, and the duties of the Department of
learning to work. "
Health and Human Resources (DHHR) . It also authorized a
system of state -wide accountability that relates to 1996's forum
topic of service outcomes and measurability. For example, the
State may take over a pilot county that for two years fails to meet
its welfare reform plan and fails to comply with corrective action.
Representative Insko also described the First Step Employment
Assistance Program and the new Biometric Imaging System.
North Carolina State Senator Howard Lee elaborated on the "hot
off the press" welfare legislation. He said that Work First, which
is showing clear signs of success, was not scrapped in favor of
some completely new program with new goals. He spoke
strongly in favor of increasing training opportunities within
Orange County. He mentioned that the reform will undoubtedly
increase state and county bureaucracy and that he recommended
that Orange County not become a pilot county.
0
f
"So You Think You're Immune from Welfare_Reform,..."
♦ What resources in Orange County are available to address the
challenges?
♦ What are the strategies to address Welfare Reform?
The recommended strategies from each of these groups are
summarized below.
WELFARE REFORM STRATEGIES
Childcare and Afterschool Care
Facilitator: Anna Mercer - McLean
♦ Expand available child care for families looking for employment
♦ Lobby for legislation and funding to support childcare (local,
county, state)
♦ Create a public campaign — "These are our children; it's
important to care"
♦ Use school buses to transport children to Parks and Recreation
Programs
♦ Expand afterschool Parks and Recreation programs
Emergency Services
Facilitator: Karen Taylor
♦ Network among Human Service groups for provision of services
♦ Provide Training and Education support systems for families and
people who will be employed
♦ Evaluate and reevaluate agency services
Be honest about realistic programs and services
Avoid competition and duplication
♦ Develop a case management and follow -up system to help people
respond in a crisis
♦ Advocate for more funding from private sector and legislators
0
"So You Think You're Immune from Welfare Reform,..."
CONCLUSIONS
The success of Welfare Reform in Orange County will largely
depend upon collaboration between private and public human
services organizations. The agencies should work together to
provide core services: affordable housing, transportation, and
childcare. They should also network to avoid duplication of
effort and they should establish clear measures of accountability.
A strong emphasis should be placed on prevention to keep from
developing a new revolving door in and out of the welfare
system. A major part of that prevention effort should involve the
tracking of welfare recipients as they move off the rolls as well as
those who have already been excluded from the system. The
contractor doing the tracking should also mentor clients as new
problems arise. Clear communication is key, especially for those
people who will soon lose their benefits.
The feedback from this tracking system would inform the
BOCC's (and the state's) efforts to allocate resources wisely.
However, the continued interest of all the 1997 HSAC Forum
participants in welfare reform planning may truly create the best
outcome for Orange County.
5